Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 13 May 2024

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Abbeville: Parishioners stop teen armed with rifle from entering church during Mass

WBAY in Louisiana reports:

“A tragedy may have narrowly been avoided at a Louisiana church, where police say a teen armed with a rifle was stopped by parishioners from getting inside as dozens of children were making their First Communion.

Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy says the 16-year-old suspect was interviewed by officers then taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. He is charged with terrorizing and two counts of possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

…

Authorities say the parishioners who stopped the teen from entering the church likely saved lives.”

Related Articles:

• Abbeville church evacuated during mass; 1 person taken into custody
• Louisiana parishioners stop teen armed with rifle from entering first Communion Mass

Analyst Comments:

This incident shows that attacks of houses of worship do not always need to end in tragedy.

Faith-Based Organizations should consider reviewing the following resources to protect their houses of worship and other facilities.

• Violence Prevention Through De-escalation | CISA Video
• Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities (cisa.gov)
• Protecting Houses of Worship | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA
• White Paper: The Hostile Event Attack Cycle (HEAC), 2021 Update (gate15.global)
  • PDF: HEAC-Series_2021

Additionally, Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library, including information on Securing Facilities and People.

Bomb Squad at Clearlake Baptist Church-Packaged Marked “Bomb” with Swastikas Brought Inside

The Space Coast Rocket reports:

“The Clearlake Baptist Church in Cocoa, FL was evacuated this morning when a member found a package by the front door, covered in swastikas and the word “bomb.” According to the family of the church’s pastor, the member brought the package inside the building after it was found.”

Related Article:

• Suspicious package with swastika, ‘bomb’ message left at Cocoa church

Analyst Comments:

Suspicious or threatening packages should not be brought into your facility. Faith-Based Organizations can find additional suspicious package guidance in the following resources.

• The US Postal Service Inspectors provide Poster 84 – Suspicious Mail or Packages to help identify suspicious packages.
• 28-page Bomb Threat Guide from CISA and the FBI.
• Campus Security 9 Bomb Threat Preparedness and Response Considerations
• CISA’s Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) provides a wide range of resources and training.

Campus Protest and Related Headlines

• The network behind campus antisemitism
• A Chaotic Night at U.C.L.A. Raises Questions About Police Response
• GW: Majority Of University Protesters Arrested Weren’t Even Students, Police Say
• Pro-Palestinian protests dwindle on campuses as US college graduations are marked by defiant acts
• University of California-Berkeley grads disrupt commencement with anti-Israel protests
• Duke students walk out of Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech amid wave of graduation antiwar protests
• VCU students walk out of commencement protesting Youngkin speech
• Pro-Israel vandals spray paint NYC home of Columbia protester: ‘Never again’
• Jewish fraternity house at Temple University vandalized with ‘Free Palestine’ spray painted on roof
• Florida student protesters admit they are ‘anti-Jewish’
• BREAKING: CAIR Files Civil Rights Complaint Seeking Apology, Policy Changes on Behalf of Md. Student Following Reported Assaults, Forced Hijab Removal
• CAIR-LA Condemns UC Irvine Administration’s Academic Retaliation Against Students Involved in Peaceful Anti-Genocide Encampments
• CAIR-LA Calls for Chapman University Probe Into Man Who Violently Threatened Anti-Genocide Protesters, Demands University Take Action To Protect Students
• CAIR-AZ Welcomes Firing of Arizona Professor for Allegedly Harassing Muslim Woman at Protest, Calls for Arrest
• Antisemitic graffiti found at King amid student walkout for Gaza